SYMPTOMS: (audio hums, but does not know the words)
A. There is a low frequency hum coming from the speakers or subwoofer.
B. There is a Faint Horizontal line, drifting up or down in the TV picture.
Indicates there is a ground loop, which is relatively simple and inexpensive to fix. A ground loop occurs when two earths or grounds (not one) are connected to your theater system, audio system, multimedia computer, TV, etc…
This also frequently occurs in professional PA systems, musical instrument amplifiers, and recording studios.
Most common cause: cable television. Disconnect the cable TV entirely (this includes cable internet) and test to see if the hum goes away.
If the hum goes away, you can install a cable TV isolation transformer, available from several electronics supply houses. OR use a cheaper method:
Easiest / cheapest solution: A three prong to two prong AC power plug adapter, sold in hardware stores. This is intended to adapt a new style AC plug (with ground) to an old style electrical outlet (two prong). The new style AC power plug has a third pin, which is a ground.
The adapter allows you to “lift” the third pin, which disconnects the ground from the TV, amplifier, etc…Please do not cut the third pin off the power plug.
The adapter may have a green wire or a grounding tab, don’t connect those to anything…
Once the offending ground has been disconnected, the ground loop will be gone.
Install the plug adapter on the TV or subwoofer first, you may need more than one adapter. Did that solve the problem?
If not solved, try lifting the rest of the grounds in the system, such as PC, Mixer, etc…you will certainly find the source of the ground loop by process of elimination.
Hope that helps your hum and TV picture.
A. There is a low frequency hum coming from the speakers or subwoofer.
B. There is a Faint Horizontal line, drifting up or down in the TV picture.
Indicates there is a ground loop, which is relatively simple and inexpensive to fix. A ground loop occurs when two earths or grounds (not one) are connected to your theater system, audio system, multimedia computer, TV, etc…
This also frequently occurs in professional PA systems, musical instrument amplifiers, and recording studios.
Most common cause: cable television. Disconnect the cable TV entirely (this includes cable internet) and test to see if the hum goes away.
If the hum goes away, you can install a cable TV isolation transformer, available from several electronics supply houses. OR use a cheaper method:
Easiest / cheapest solution: A three prong to two prong AC power plug adapter, sold in hardware stores. This is intended to adapt a new style AC plug (with ground) to an old style electrical outlet (two prong). The new style AC power plug has a third pin, which is a ground.
The adapter allows you to “lift” the third pin, which disconnects the ground from the TV, amplifier, etc…Please do not cut the third pin off the power plug.
The adapter may have a green wire or a grounding tab, don’t connect those to anything…
Once the offending ground has been disconnected, the ground loop will be gone.
Install the plug adapter on the TV or subwoofer first, you may need more than one adapter. Did that solve the problem?
If not solved, try lifting the rest of the grounds in the system, such as PC, Mixer, etc…you will certainly find the source of the ground loop by process of elimination.
Hope that helps your hum and TV picture.